Series 05

Story 03
The Butterfly
as told by Olga Miller – QLD Fraser Island

How did the caterpillar turn into a butterfly?

Synopsis:
Birrave was the spirit who looked after the plants, trees and grasses. He painted flowers and anything else that needed painting. On day Birrave met Caterpillar who offered to help him. So Caterpillar carried the paints while Birrave painted the flowers. On their travels they met a bird named Willy Wagtail who took Caterpillar to a magic bush that would make wings grow on Caterpillar so he could fly if he ate all the leaves from the bush. Caterpillar believed him and ate all the leaves that night and still helped Birrave in the daytime. Spider told Caterpillar he had grown very fat and that Willy Wagtail would come back to eat him. Mellong, punisher of wrongdoers, rewarded Caterpillar with beautiful wings for helping Birrave everyday. Willy Wagtail came back to the bush to see if Caterpillar was fat enough to eat. Willy Wagtail looked at Caterpillar’s beautiful wings in amazement as he was only tricking him about the magic bush. Butterfly still helps paint the flowers but these days he helps by carrying Birrave on his back.

Aboriginal Nations Australia Pty Limited © Copyright 2007